Goodwill In Central Oklahoma Helps Veterans Find Housing

Some metro veterans are feeling a whole lot of relief.

They were on the streets without a place to live just weeks ago. Now, they have homes.

Thanks to $830,000 in CARES Act funding, Goodwill of Central Oklahoma was able to find homes for 102 veterans.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do,” veteran Teffonie Saar-Carrington said.

Saar-Carrington served in the Army and Air Force Reserves and was evicted from her home. She also has an accounting degree.

After struggling with addiction, she lost her job and, ultimately, her home.

“It’s mentally draining to think, ‘Oh my God, how am I going to pay this,’” Saar-Carrington said.

The metro mother found Goodwill of Central Oklahoma, which helped her receive counselling, job training and, just last month, a home.

“It’s really exciting. My son has his own room,” Saar-Carrington said.

Many of the veterans placed in homes ended up in hotels.

As housing prices and rents continue to rise and evictions expected to skyrocket, Goodwill said finding those options have been a huge challenge.

“We still have a few landlords that are a little apprehensive to work with people we serve because they have some barriers,” Goodwill of Central Oklahoma Veteran Services Outreach Manager Tanya Howard said.

Goodwill hopes more landlords will come forward and show a willingness to help veterans.

Meanwhile, Saar-Carrington is training to become an insurance adjuster. She hopes her story inspires other veterans to find help.

“God has got this. He’s going to take care of everything,” Saar-Carrington said.